Cushioning mechanism



D. s. BARROWS cUsHroNING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 25, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2iNvENToR v ToRNr-:Y

D. s. BARRoWs '2,023,00

CUSHIONING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 23, 1929 4 sheets-sheet 3 NVENTOR co/7ala7/j'. .5a :Spaan/S @ML 3, i935. D s; BARRQWS v Y ZZEU cUsHIoNINGMECHANISM Filed Dec. 25, 1929 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Dec. 3, 1935UNITED STATES PATENT orifice CUSHIONING MECHANISM Application December23, 1929, Serial No. 416,113

17 Claims.

This invention relates to draft rigging, and more particularly to springand friction draft gears especially adapted for use on railway vehicles.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is ,toprovide friction draft gears or cushioning mechanism especially adaptedfor railway service and having housings or casings so slotted that theyare adapted to receive draft keys for connection with associated sillswhereby, if desired, the inner ends of said gears only may be' employedfor cushioning draft forces and both ends may be used for cushioningbuffing forces.

Another object of my invention is to provide cushioning mechanismcomprising an enclosing housing or casing, preferablyopen at both ends,and formed with inclined' friction surfaces at said ends, the angularityof the friction surfaces at one end being normal and that at the otherend being greater than normal so as to provide for self-releasing oftheassociated wedges, the wedges at the first-mentioned end being providedwith an intermediate follower and release springs, some of said releasesprings continuing toward the other end of the gear to engage acorresponding follower for the other Wedges to hold said followerthereagainst and avoid the necessity of nibs on the wedge springs andpockets in the wedges for holding said springs in place.

A further object of my invention is to provide friction wedges for usewith cushioning mechanism or draft gears and formed with springretaining lugs on the inner ends and/or with shoe castings interlockingtherewith to decrease the abrasive action of the wedges on theassociated follower by increasing the engaging areas and retaining theassociated wedge springs in proper position.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of frictionwedges for railway draft gears or cushioning mechanism each involving aspecial main wedge and shoe interlc-cked therewith and providing flangesoverlying the ends of the associated curved plate springs for holdingthem in position and preventing them from gouging the associatedfollower, said flanges increasing the area engaged by said follower fordecreasing wear therebetween.

An additional object of my invention is to provide friction wedges foruse with railway draft gears and adapted to receive interior orintermediate follower plates in rectangular slots or notches inthe tailsthereof, said follower plates being thereby adapted to retain associatedcurved plate springs in place.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particulararrangement and construction of the various parts will become 5 apparentas the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereofis defined by the appended claims:-

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation and par- 10 tial verticallongitudinal sectional view of a fo-rm of draft gear or cushioningmechanism embodying my invention, the associated front and rear or outerfollowers being diagrammatically illustrated.

Fig. 2 is a partial end elevation and partial transverse sectional Viewon the line 2--2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary partial side elevation and partial verticallongitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a partial side elevation and partial vertical longitudinalsectionalview of a further embodiment of my invention, the associatedcoupler, yoke, front and rear followers and connecting key beingdiagrammatically illustrated.

Fig. 5 is a partial plan and partial horizontal sectional View of theembodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 4.

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are transverse sectional views on correspondinglynumbered lines of Fig. 4 looking in the directions of the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a rear end elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. lV withthe rear follower removed.

Fig. 11 is a front end elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4 withthe front follower removed.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of one o-f the wedge shoes, for the front orouter friction wedges, removed from the gear.

Fig. 13 is an end elevation of said wedge shoe.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation shown partially in vertical section of oneof the wedge shoes, of inner or rear friction wedges, removed from thegear.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by likereference characters, and first considering the embodiment of myinvention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a double-endedseries friction draft gear or cushioning mechanism I particularlyadapted for use on railway vehicles and preferably designed so that itwill fit into a draft gear pocket of normal size. In the embodimentshown, it is of a length 55 corresponding with that of a standard sizedraft gear pocket allowing for the increased coupler travel provided.

The gear preferably comprises a spring barrel or housing 2 with its endsopen and formed with outwardly flaring walls 3 providing inclinedfriction surfaces d. Received between said walls 3 are wedges or wedgeblocks 5 having correspondingly inclined friction surfaces 6 normallyengaging the friction surfaces 1i on the housing or casing 2. In orderto interlock the wedge blocks 5 with the housing, the same arepreferably formed with inner shouldered portions 'I which engagecorrespondingly shouldered portions 8 at the inner ends of the inclinedsurfaces 4 on the housing, thereby preventing undesired withdrawal ofsaid wedge blocks. Disposed between the wedge blocks 5, for urging themapart and into engagement with the inclined friction surfaces on thehousing, are two sets of curved plate or leaf springs 9, each set ofwhich has its concave side preferably disposed toward the correspondingwedge block so that the ends III thereof engage said wedge blocks andurge them into frictional engagement with the inclined portions of thehousing, while the convex sides of the spring sets engage one anotherwithout danger of slipping out of proper contact.

The inner ends of the wedge blocks are engaged by intermediate followersII which are, in turn, engaged by release springs I2 preferablycomprising two pairs of spring units, each unitv comprising outer coilsI3 and inner coils I4. The inner ends of said release springs preferablyengage lXed portions of the housing 2 such as the transverse partitionor wall I5. Although only one end of the gear is shown in section, itwill be understood that the interior construction of the other end maybe identical, as in the embodiment under consideration, or different, aswill be described in connection with a succeeding embodiment.

In order to provide for connection of the gear with associated sills sothat, if desired, only the rearmost or inner mechanism is stressed underthe action of draft forces and all of the mechanism is stressed underthe action of bufng forces, as will be more fully explained inconnection with a succeeding embodiment of my invention, the housing 2is preferably formed with a horizontal slot I6 disposed in a portion I'Iof the housing extending forwardly and rearwardly from the partition I5and forming, in effect, a partition dividing the housing into upper andlower compartments and extending transversely between the side wallsthereof, said extensions preferably lying between the upper and lowerpairs of spring units I2. The gear I may be used with front and rearfollowers I8 and I9 diagrammatically illustrated, the front follower I3,as will be understood, being normally engaged by the butt of anassociated coupler (not shown), and the rear follower normallysurrounded by a yoke (not shown) which, in turn, engages an associatedback stop (not shown).

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 3, aform of single-ended draft gear is there disclosed which is similar inmost respects to the form of double-ended draft gear illustrated inFigs. l and 2. The gear Ia shown in Fig. 3 comprises a housing or casing2a open at one end and closed by a wall I5a at the other end. The openend, as in the previous embodiment, is provided with inwardly convergingwalls Se, which walls, however, are, in the present embodiment, shown asformed on separable shoes 20 having lugs or flanges 2i and 22 fitting incorresponding pockets 23 and 2li in the adjacent walls of the housing2n. The sloping portions 3a of the shoes 20 provide inclined frictionsurfaces da adapted to be engaged by corresponding surfaces 6a on wedgeblocks 5a. In order to interlock the wedge blocks 5a with respect to thehousing 2a, the same are preferably formed with inner shoulderedportions 'Ia overlying the inner ends of the shoes 2li, therebypreventing undesired withdrawal of the wedge blocks. Disposed betweensaid wedge blocks 5a for urging them apart and into engagement with theinclined friction surfaces la are two sets of curved plate or leafsprings 9a, as in the previous embodiment.

The inner ends of the wedge blocks 5i preferably engage an inner orintermediate follower I ILL which is, in turn, engaged by releasesprings I2. Between said release springs, as in the previous embodiment,is an extension I'Ia from the wall IBGL slotted as at I6a for receivinga connecting draft key (not shown). The upper and lower walls 25 of thehousing may be curved around the release springs, in a mannercorresponding to that shown in Fig. 2, to assist in properly guidingthem, and in order to maintain the proper relation between theintermediate follower IIa and said springs, said follower is providedwith spring-positioning lugs 26 engaging the adjacent ends of therelease Referring now to the embodiment of my invenn tion illustrated inFigs. fl to i4, inclusive, there is shown a slotted double-ended seriesfriction draft gear as in the embodiment of Figs. l and 2, but ofdifferent construction, that is, with a front orl outer end formeddifferently from the rear or inner end on account of the difference inuse accorded the two ends of the gear. mounted between sills (not shown)and is normally associated with a coupler 21, diagrammaticallyillustrated, the butt of which is normally in engagement with the frontfollower I8b. A yoke 28, diagrammatically illustrated, normallysurrounds the gear with the closed or looped end thereof in engagementwith the rear follower I9". As in the first embodiment, the housing 2bof the gear is provided with a slot Ifb receiving a connecting draft key29 which is adapted to not only pass through said slot, but throughregistering slots 3B in the yoke and associated cheek plates and/ordraft sills (not shown). The slots 3D in the yoke and cheek plates and/or sills are rearwardly elongated, as particularly illustrated in Fig. 4for a purpose to be more fully explained hereinafter.

The gear Io comprises a housing or casing 2b open at each end which isformed bell-mouthed or provided with sloping walls 3b, the innersurfaces of which provide inclined friction faces ib normally engaged bycorresponding surfaces Gb on wedge blocks 5b. As in the previousembodiment, the wedge blocks 5b have shouldered portions 'Ib engagingcorrespondingly shouldered portions lib on the housing to limit outwardmovement of said wedge blocks. The wedge blocks at opposite ends of thegear are of different construction, as will be apparent from aconsideration of Fig. and will now be described in detail.

The friction blocks 5b at the iner or rear end of The gear Ib is thegear I b and the correspondingly inclined fric- 76 tion surfaces on thehousing are disposed at an angle corresponding with that of the inclinedfriction surfaces of the embodiments of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 so that theblocks are not self-releasing and are, therefore, necessarily used withrelease springs. On the other hand, the blocks 5b at the outer or frontend of the gear and the inclined walls of the housing have frictionsurfaces inclined at a steeper angle so that the blocks areself-releasing and do not necessitate the use of release springs forthat purpose. On account of this construction, the inner blocks 5b havean inner intermediate follower lib engaging the inner ends of said wedgeblocks 5b and preferably fitting in notches 3l therein, the oppositeface of said follower being engaged by two sets of helical leaf springunits 12b, each set, as in the first embodi ment, preferably comprisingan outer spring lh and an inner spring ib. The inner or opposite end ofthe outer spring l4b normally engages a transverse web, wall or flangel5b on the housing 2b which iiange is preferably apertured, as indicatedat 32, to permit passage of the inner spring lib, Which inner springpreferably extends into engagement with the outer or front intermediatefollower Hb, not primarily for the purpose of effecting release of theouter wedges 5b but to hold the follower in place against the ends ofthe corresponding wedges and thereby avoid the necessity of specialmeans suchas nibs on the springs 9b and corresponding pockets in thewedges 5b for maintaining said springs in proper position with respectthereto. As in the embodiment of Fig. 3, the inner or rear intermediatefollower I Ib has spring retaining bosses 261.

In order to retain the springs 9b in place and avoid gouging of the rearfollower l9b by said springs and the corresponding ends of the wedges5b, said wedges are preferably provided with shoes or supplementalportions 33, the outer portions of which form flanges 34 overlying theends of the shoes and extended beyond the springs 9b, as indicated at35, said extensions or lugs t5, however, being desirably formed tointert one with the other, as shown particularly in Fig. l0, and therebypermit the closure of the gear. Each shoe 33 is formed with an inwardlyextending flange 35 preferably provided with a conical or tapered lug 31adapted to t in a corresponding pocket 3S in the associated wedge block5b whereby when the springs Sb are in place, the shoe 33 and associatedwedge block 5b are securely held in interlocked relation. The rearfollower lib is desirably Ycut out or notched, as indicated at 39, toreceive the shoes 33 without increasing the overall length of the gear.

In assembling the springs 9b with the wedges 5b and shoes 33, a flatpiece of steel may first be inserted in the notched portion dll in eachwedge which receives the flange 36 of vthe shoe 33 with its top flushwith the top or inner surface of the wedge` The springs may then beassembled in the usual manner, and upon removal of the piece of steel,the wedge shoes may be driven into the spaces occupied thereby until thelugs 3i thereof interlock in the pockets 38, as shown most clearly inFig. 4.

The wedges 5b at the outer or front end of the gear may likewise be ofspecial construction and provided with wedge shoes or supplemental wedgeportions 4l tting in corresponding depressions or pockets t2 in thewedges 5b, said shoes being preferably provided with inclined or slopingwall portions 43 notched or shouldered, as indicated'rat 44, to receivea corresponding projection or lug 45 on the corresponding wedge 5bwhereby each shoe may be assembled with its corresponding wedge by beingVforced into place between the wedge and the associated springs 91Duntil the lug 45 snaps into interlocking position in the corre- -5sponding notch or pocket 44. The shoes 4| are provided with outerflanges or lugs 46 which overlie the outer ends of the springs 9b andthereby hold them in position and prevent them from gouging theassociated follower lSb, at the same time increasing the wearing area inengagement with said follower and reducing wear on said follower. Inorder to permit compression of the gear, the flanges 45 are desirablyinclined, as

shown in Fig. 11, so as to avoid interference therep5" between while atthe same time providing sufficient height to retain the springs 9' inplace. The associated follower ith is preferably notched to receive theflanges fifi of the shoes 4l to thereby avoid increasing the overalllength of the gear. 21)v- All the wearing surfaces on the wedges may, ifdesired, be provided with lead inserts 4l to prevent sticking andprovide smoothness of operation, and the inner ends of all the wedgesmay i vv have spring retaining lugs @8 which act as means 2;5 additionalto the intermediate followers to hold the springs 9b in place.

The operation of the gear of the present embodiment as Well as that ofthe embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 may be as follows, although it will 30be understood that, if desired, the gear may be utilized as an ordinarysingle-ended gear so that the entire capacity is brought into actionunder both draft and bufling forces. When draft force is applied to thecoupler 2l, said force is transmitted from said coupler to the yoke 28through the connecting key fig, thereby effecting a compression of therearmost mechanism oi the gear by forward mo-vement of the rear followerl9b forcing the rear wedges 5zo into the housing 2b, 40 compressing therear curved plate springs 9b and the release springs iZb, it beingunderstood that the housing 2b is prevented from forward movement by theconnecting draft key 29 which passes A through the slot Ib in thehousing and corre- 45 sponding slots in the cheek plates and/or draftsills of the car.

Under the action of bufiing force, however, the coupler 2i engages thefront follower I8b and pushes the front friction elements 5b into the5()y housing 2b simultaneously moving said housing rearwardly over therear friction elements 5b, which rearward movement is permitted on account of the rearward elongation of the slots 3Q in the yoke and cheekplates of the car, it being 55 understood that the rear follower 59h isheld from rearward movement by means of a usual form of back stop (notshown). It will, therefore, be seen that full compression of the gear ispermitted under the action of bufling force not only pro- 60 viding forincreased bufling capacity, but for a coupler travel equal to the sum ofthe travel permitted by the friction elements at each end of the gear.Although, for convenience, the gear is preferably made so that thetravel provided by each I It will be seen that on account ofthe'lsteeper angle of the wedges at the front end of the gear,

the front springs 9b may be stressed to a greater extent, for a givenwedge movement, than the rear springs 9b so that if the springs at thetwo ends are of equal strength, a greater capacity is provided by thefront portion of the gear than the rear portion. However, this capacityis modified by the fact that the release spring action provided for therear wedges is greater than that provided for the front wedges so thatthe relative capacities of the two ends of the gear may be adjustedwithin wide limits. The wedges with the greater release spring capacityare desirably disposed at the rear or inner end of the gear as thesewedges are always brought into play under both draft and buffing forces,whereas the front Wedges are only used under the action of buflingforces when the gear is employed with draft rigging, as diagrammaticallyshown in Fig. Il. In this way, there is the certainty of having theusual release spring action for restoring the gear to normal aftereither draft or bumng action, restoration of the front portion of thegear being more readily effected when the gear has been partly releasedthrough the positive action of the rear release springs.

In accordance with the foregoing disclosure, it will be seen that I havedevised a form of cushioning mechanism which involves a housing slottedfor receiving a connecting draft key and which may be single-ended tointerchange with the usual forms of single draft 'gea-rs, all of whichmay be double-ended for series use giving, if desired, a differentialcapacity greater under the action of bumng forces than under the actionof draft forces, it being well understood that bufling forces are alwaysapt to be greater than draft forces. In accordance with my invention, Ihave also provided for either doubling the capacity and travel of thegear for absorbing bufng forces as compared with draft forces or forincreasing such capacity and/or travel to the extent desired.

Although I have illustrated several preferred embodiments of myinvention, it will be understood that modifications may be made withinthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. Cushioning mechanism adapted for use with railway draft riggingcomprising a housing slotted adjacent an intermediate portion thereoffor receiving a connecting draft key and open at each end, said openends having the walls formed with inwardly converging friction surfaces,the surfaces at one end converging at a sharper angle than those at theother end, wedges having correspondingly inclined friction surfacesengaging the friction surfaces of the housing and movable tliereinto,curved leaf springs disposed between said wedges for urging them apartand into engagement with the friction surfaces on the housing,intermediate followers engaging the inner ends of said wedges, and apair of inner and outer helical release springs disposed in contact withthe follower which engages the inner ends of the wedges at that end ofthe housing having the inclined surfaces disposed at the lesserangularity, the other ends of the outer helical springs engaging fixedportions of the housing, said fixed portions permitting the innerhelical springs to pass therethrough and engage the other follower tomaintain said follower in contact with the inner ends of the otherwedges.

2. Cushioning mechanism adapted for use with railwaydraft riggingcomprising a housing having an open end formed with inclined wallsproviding converging friction surfaces, wedges with correspondinglyinclined friction surfaces engaging the friction surfaces of the housingand movable thereinto, curved leaf springs disposed between said wedgesfor urging them apart and into engagement with the friction surfaces onthe housing, an intermediate follower engaging the inner ends of saidwedges, and springs engaging said follower for effecting release of thewedges, said wedges being provided with pockets adjacent the outer endsof the curved leaf springs and shoe l castings formed with projectionsinterlocking in said pockets and providing flanges overlying the ends ofsaid springs and wedges to increase the bearing area with respect to anassociated follower and retain the springs in proper position. 3.Cushioning mechanism adapted for use with railway draft riggingcomprising a housing open at one end, said open end having oppositewalls formed with inwardly converging friction surfaces, wedges havingcorrespondingly inclined 20 friction surfaces engaging the frictionsurfaces of the housing and movable thereinto, curved leaf springsdisposed between said wedges for urging them apart and into engagementwith the friction surfaces on the housing, an intermediate follower 2engaging the inner ends of said wedges, and release springs engagingsaid follower for holding it in contact with said wedges, the outer endsof said wedges being formed with pockets having outwardly flaring sidesand shoes with wedge 3 shaped projections fitting said pockets andinterlocked with the wedges, the outer ends of said shoes having flangesoverlying the ends of the curved plate springs for holding them inproper position and providing increased area for engage- 3 ment with anassociated follower.

4. Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing slotted adjacent the centerthereof for receiving a connecting draft key, the ends of said housingflaring outwardly to provide inclined friction 4 surfaces, theangularity between the friction surfaces at one end being greater thanthat at the other end, friction elements received in each end of saidhousing and presentingcorrespondinglyinclined friction surfaces forengagement with the 4 friction surfaces on the housing, resilient meansdisposed between said elements for urging them into engagement with thefriction surfaces on the housing, and release springs for said frictionele ments, some of said springs serving for the elements at both ends ofthe housing and others acting on the elements at only one end thereof.

5. Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing slotted adjacent the centerthereof for receiving a connecting draft key, a transverse partition 55adjacent said slotted portion dividing said housing into two parts, theends of said housing flaring outwardly to provide inclined frictionsurfaces, friction elements received in each end of said housing andpresenting correspondingly inclined friction surfaces for engagementwith the friction surfaces of the housing, intermediate followersengaging the inner ends of said friction elements, and release springsdisposed between said intermediate followers and the partition.

6. In railway draft rigging in combination with draft sills, a couplerand yoke acting means, a friction draft gear comprising a housing openat both ends and formed with inclined friction surfaces, frictionelements with correspondingly inclined friction surfaces cooperatingwith said housing at each end, the inclination of the friction surfacesat the front or coupler engaging end beingh greater than that at theother end, said yoke acting means embracing said housing and friction 7elements for actuating the rear elements on draft, and a key received ina slot in said housing and slots in said sills, sm'd sill slots beingelongated rearwardly to permit rearward movement of the housing on buffwhile holding it stationary on draft whereby the friction elements atboth ends are operated on buif but only those at the rear end areoperated on draft, said friction eieinents at the rear end havingrelease springs comprising inner and outer coils, the inner coils ofsaid release springs being continued to act on the friction elements atthe other end of the housing.

7. Cushioning mechanism adapted for use with railway draft riggingcomprising a housing open at each end, walls at said open ends formedwith inwardly converging friction surfaces, the friction surfaces at oneend converging at a sharper angle than those at the other end, frictionelements having correspondingly inclined friction surfaces engaging thefriction surfaces of the housing and movable thereinto, resilient meansdisposed between said wedge means for urging them apart and intoengagement with the friction surfaces on the housing, intermediatefollowers engaging the inner ends of said wedges, and a plurality ofrelease springs, all of said springs acting on one `of said intermediatefollowers and only some of said springs acting on the other intermediatefollowers.

8. Cushioning mechanism adapted for use with railway draft riggingcomprising a housing open at one `end and formed at said open end withconverging walls providing friction surfaces, wedges withcorrespondingly inclined friction surfaces engaging the frictionsurfaces of the housing and movable thereinto, resilient means disposedbetween said wedges for urging them apart and into engagement with thefriction surfaces on the housing, said wedges being provided withpockets adjacent their outer ends, and shoe castings formed withportions fitting in said pockets, said shoe castings having flanges forincreasing the bearing area in respect to an associated follower.

9. Cushioning mechanism adapted for use as railway draft riggingcomprising a housing having an open end formed with inwardly convergingfriction surfaces, wedges having correspondingly inclined frictionsurfaces engaging the friction surfaces of the housing and movablethereinto, resilient means disposed between said wedges for urging themapart and into engagement with the friction surfaces on the housing, theouter ends of said wedges being formed with pockets, and shoes withprojections fitting said pockets and interlocked with said wedges, theouter ends of said shoes having flanges for holding the resilient meansin position and adapted to engage an associated follower for increasingthe effective frictional area.

10. Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing formed with a slotadjacent the center thereof for receiving means for connection withassociated car sills, the ends of said housing having iiaring wallsproviding inclined friction surfaces, the angularity between thefriction surfaces at one end being greater than that at the other end,friction wedges received in each end of the housing and having inclinedfriction surfaces in engagement with the friction surfaces on thehousing, resilient means disposed between said elements for urging theminto engagement with the housing, and resilient means for effectingrelease of said elements, portions of said resilient means only actingon the elements at one end of the housing and all of said resilientmeans acting on the elements at the other end.

11. Cushioning mechanism adapted for use with railway draft riggingcomprising a housing having open ends formed with relatively fixed 5inwardly converging friction faces, wedges with friction faces engagingthe friction faces of the housing and movable thereinto, curved leafsprings disposed between said wedges to oppose movement thereof towardeach other, said housing having a normally vertical partition unitingopposite walls, a normally horizontal partition forming a reinforcementuniting opposite walls of the housing, and merging into said verticalpartition, said walls being provided with a slot defined by upper andlower elements of said normally horizontal partition and adapted toreceive a connecting draft key, rele-ase springs disposed on either sideof said partitions, and an intermediate follower disposed between saidsprings and the inner ends of said wedges.

12. Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing open at both ends, a setof friction elements and associated followers cooperating with saidhousing at each end, resilient means urging the `elements of each setinto engagement with the housing, the engaging surfaces between saidfriction elements and housing converging inwardly and the inclination ofthe surfaces at one end being greater than that at the other, and theinclinations being such, that the friction elements at one end areself-releasing while those of the other are not, and resilient means foreffecting release of the friction elements having the friction surfacesof lesser inclination, a portion of said resilient means being extendedto hold the follower of the other friction elements in place.

13. Cushioning mechanism adapted for use with railway draft riggingcomprising a housing having an open end formed with relatively fixedinwardly converging friction surfaces, wedges with friction facesengaging said friction surfaces and movable into said housing, andresilient means disposed between said wedges to oppose movement thereoftoward each other, the inner ends of said wedges having lugs directedtoward one another and the outer ends of said wedges having pockets andsupplemental portions fitting in said pockets, said supplementalportions being provided with lugs at their outer ends directed towardone another, all of said lugs being adapted to engage adjacent portionsof said resilient means for preventing undesired movement thereof. 55

14. Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing with open ends andoutwardly diverging walls adjacent said ends providing inclined frictionsurfaces, a transverse normally vertical partition dividing said housinginto two compartments disposed one in front of the other, a normallyhorizontal partition, comprising vertically spaced webs connected attheir ends, intersecting said vertical partition and dividing thecompartments into upper and lower parts, a slot through said housing,and defined, intermediate the side walls, by said webs of the normallyhorizontal partition, for receiving a connecting draft key, frictionelements received in each compartment and presenting correspondinglyinclined friction surfaces for engagement with the friction surfaces ofthe housing, curved plate springs at each end of the housing disposedbetween and acting on the friction elements, intermediate followersengaging the inner ends of said friction elemexjLs, and

release springs disposed in the upper and lower parts of saidcompartments between said intermediate followers and partition.

15.' Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing open at both ends andformed With inclined friction surfaces at each end, friction elementswith correspondingly inclined friction surfaces and associated followerscooperating with said housing at each end,theinclination of the frictionsurfaces at one end being greater than that at the other end, so thatthe friction elements at said end, with friction surfaces of greaterinclination, are self-releasing, while those at the other end are not,and resilient means for effecting release of the elements which are notself-releasing, a portion of said resilient means acting on the followerfor the self-releasing elements.

16. Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing slotted adjacent itscenter for receiving a connecting draft key, a transverse web portionadjacent said slotted portion and serving to divide said housing intotwo parts, the ends of said housing aring outwardly to provide inclinedfriction surfaces, friction elements received in each end of saidhousing and presenting cori respondingly inclined friction surfaces forengage-i ment with the friction surfaces of the housing', anintermediate follower engaging the friction elements at one end of saidhousing, and a release spring disposed between said intermediatefollower and said transverse web portion. 4

17. Cushioning mechanism comprising an outer friction member withnormally upright side wall portions formed with receptacles toaccommodate a connecting draft key, said member having another pair ofwalls comprising portions converging inwardly from both ends toward acentral part and. providing interior inclined friction surfaces,friction elements positioned between the converging portions of saidwalls and formed with correspondingly inclined friction surfacesdirectly engaging said interior inclined friction surfaces, followersengaging the inner ends of said friction elements, and springs actinglongitudinally and engaging said followers for holding them in place andassisting in the release of the mechanism.

DONALD S. BARROWS.

